Adjustable die and blade for the same



April 27, 1937. M. E. HALSTEAD 2,078,569

ADJUSTABLE DIE AND BLADE FOR THE SAME Filed Julyv 10, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l it) q VEN O W 3.7%;

April 27, 1937. M. E. HALSTEAD ADJUSTABLE DIE AND BLADE FOR THE SAME Filed July 10, 19555 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M w zzzzd ATTORNEY A r'i127, 1937.

M. E. HALSTEAD 2,078,569 ADJUSTABLE DIE AND BLADE FOR THE SAME Filed July 10, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 31%,; A M A Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFIQE Merle E. Halstead, Owego, N. Y.

Application July 10, 1935, Serial No. 30,646

20 Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable dies for cutting difierent size elements of leather, cloth or other material, and to cutter blades for such dies.

In its broader aspect the invention is applicable to apparatus for cutting blanks for the manuiacture of pocket books, key cases and other articles, or cutting fancy edges thereon; but the invention is intended more particularly for pinking the edges of the blanks used for Vamps, quarters, or other elements of shoe uppers.

In the manufacture of shoes, the different ele ments are cut out as blanks with smooth edges and if the style of shoe to be made is one which is decorated by pinked edges, the element is placed in a die which cuts the edge to the desired pattern. Each style of shoe must be made in a number of sizes, and when the elements are graded it is necessary to have as many pinking dies as there are sizes of shoes to be made. Aside from the inconvenience and loss of time entailed in changing dies, the necessity for a difierent die for each size of shoe of each particular style makes the manufacturers investment in dies very substantial.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved die which is adjustable to cut elements of difierent sizes. It is a more particular object of the invention to provide an adjustable die for pinking the edges of elements of shoe uppers which are graded for shoes of diiierent size.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pinking blade of great flexibility which will conform to abrupt curves and which can have its contour readily changed to shift a curve of short radius to another part of the blade.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will appear or be pointed out as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an adjustable die embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the die adjusted for pinking Vamps of larger size;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the adjustable die of Figs. 1 and. 2 with the stripper plates, guides and center cover plate removed, and one of the central sliding plates broken away to show the cam means beneath.

Figs. 4-9 are fragmentary sectional views taken on the line 44 to 9-9, respectively, of Fig. 3, but with the stripper plates, guides and cover plate in position, and a vamp against the guides in some of the views.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the pinking blade.

In Fig. 1 the die is adjusted for pinking the smallest size of vamp. The vamp edge includes a center portion 0 which may be straight or slightly curved, and on either side of the center portion a curve of radius 1", which is followed. by a straight section Z, after which the edge curves outward with a radius R.

Vamps of larger size include a longer center portion, as indicated at C in Fig. 2, the same curve of radius "7, followed by a longer straight section L and then curve outward with the same radius R as in Fig. 1. In order to compare the contour of the vamp edge which the machine is adjusted to out in Fig. 2 with the vamp cut in Fig. 1, the outline of the larger vamp is indicated by the dotted line V in Fig. 1.

A pinking blade i3 is held to the contour shown in Fig. 1 by supporting means which will be described. From a comparison of the blade contour of Fig. 1 with the outline V of the larger vamp edge it will be observed that in changing the contour of the pinking blade from that shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the center portion 0 must not only lengthen, but move down; the curve with the radius r must be located both lower and further to the right, with the result that a different part of the blade is bent to this radius; the section I must be increased in length and moved to the right; and the curved section with radius R must be shifted to the right.

The blade I3 is sufficiently flexible so that any portion of it can be bent around sharp right angle turns, or arcs of short radius, and straightened again as the holder is adjusted, without any injury to the blade; fhis high degree of flexibility is obtained by making the blade of metal between .005 and .015 inch thick, but in the elevation views of the drawings this thickness has been exaggerated for greater clearness.

The blade is corrugated to give the cutting edge the form desired for the pinking. In the blade illustrated the corrugations are pointed at both sides of the blade to form a zig-zag cutting edge. The corrugations extend for the full height of the blade to insure maximum flexibility.

One or both edges of the blade l3 may be sharpened, but the blade is so thin that it can be used for cutting even though it has not been sharpened. When the edge is to be made sharp, this is done while the blade is a flat metal strip and before it is corrugated.

Because of the extreme thinness of the blade l3 it is necessary that it have full lateral support to hold it to the desired contour and to prevent it from collapsing or bending over when subjected to the cutting pressure.

When on the die, the vamp rests on stripper plates l4, l5 and cover plate ll. This cover plate is supported by the inner edge portion of the stripper plates, these edge portions being depressed by an amount equal to the thickness of the center cover plate so that the top surfaces of all of these plates are flush. A spring 48 riveted to the center cover plate extends under the edges of the stripper plates to retain the cover plate in position. v

The edge of the uncut vamp abuts against end guides l9 and which are curved to the radius R. There is no vamp on the die in Figs. 1 and 2, but Fig. 8 shows the edge of a vamp 22 supported on the stripper plate i4 and in abutment with the end guide l9. and 25 (Figs. 1 and 2) contact with the edge along the throat of the vamp. In Fig. 6 the vamp 22 is shown abutting against the center guides 24 and 25.

The end guides i9 and 21? contact with straight edges 27 and 28 of the center guides '24 and. 25 respectively, and these straight edges are tangent to the curved faces of the end guides at the pointed lower edges of the end guides I9 and 29. During adjustment of the die, the center guides 24 and 25 move in the direction that the edges 21 and 28 extend, while also moving sideways at the same rate as the end guides l9 and 28. The center guides and end guides always meet therefore along the lines 21 and 28.

The pinking blade I3 is held to the contour of the guides I9, 26, 24 and 25 so that when these guides are adjusted to contact with the edge of any particular size of vamp, the blade is in position to pink the edges of the vamp. The guides 24, 25, i9, 20, and stripper plates it, 55 are supported by springs 30, but the pinking blade i3 is unyieldingly supported by plates resting solidly on the base of the die.

When the top block 3! (Fig. 4) of the die forces the vamp 22 downward, the springs supporting the guides and stripper plates yield and the vamp is pressed against the top edge of the pinking blade I3. Paper 32 over the bottom face of the block 3! prevents the edge of the blade from coming against the hard face of the block.

The springs Eli! are held in position by studs 33 which extend downward from the under sides of the end guides l9 and 20, the center guides 24 and 25, and the stripper plates l4 and i5.

Fig. 3 shows the adjustable die of Figs. 1 and 2 with the guides, stripper plates and cover plate removed. The center portion of the pinking blade 63 extends through a clamp 35 which is connected to a slide 36 by screws 31. The bottom edge of the pinking blade 53 .rests on the slide 36, as shown in Fig. 4, and the blade is held in the clamp 35 by a block 38 which fits into a recess having a sloping back wallet) which causes the block 38 to Wedge against the blade l3 as the block is moved downward in the recess by a screw ll which threads into the slide 36. i

The slide 36 rests on a base t3 and is confined against lateral movement on the base by guide plates 15 and 46. A nut 4'! (Fig. 4) is connected to one end of the slide 35 and is a running fit in a slot 48 in the base 53. The forward end of the slot 48 is closed by a block 50 attached to the base as a rigid part thereof. A lead screw 5| threads through the nut 41 and is journalled Center guides 2d in the base 43 and block 511 at opposite ends of the slot 48.

The unthreaded stem portion at the forward end of the lead screw 5! has a handle 53 freely slidable between a head of the lead screw and a collar 55 pinned on the stem portion in position to bear against the front face of the block 50. A tongue 56 on the handle 53 fits into a groove in the collar 55 to operatively connect the handle 53 with the lead screw 5!. The handle can slide far enough on the sternv portion of the lead screw to disengage the tongue from the groove so that no matter what angular position the lead screw may be in when the die reaches the desired adjustment, the handle 53 can be disengaged from the collar 55 and put into a horizontal position.

Under the end guides l9 and 20 of Figs. 1 and 2, there are end clamping plates 59 and 69 (Fig.

4) which have the same shape as the respective end guides under which they are located. Center clamping plates M and 65 have the same shape as, and are located under, the center guides 24 and 25 of Fig. 1. Each of the guides moves laterally as a unit with its underlying clamping plate.

Referring to Fig. 3, clamping plates 59 and 64 rest on a supporting plate 82', which slides on the base ts between undercut bearing plates 69.

Fig. 9 shows the stepped end of the supporting plate 67 and its relation to the bearing plate 59.

Referring again to Fig. 3, the clamping plates 60 and rest on a supporting plate 1! which slides on the base 53 between the undercut bearing plates 69. The topsurfaces of the supporting plates 6?, and it are flush with the upper faces of the guide plates 55 and 46, and the portions of the pinking blade beyond the plates 45 and at rest on the supporting plates 5i and Hi.

The means for moving the supporting plates 6'! and "is toward and from one another is shown in Figs. 3 and 6. A cross piece 72 is secured to the slide 36 and carries studs 13 which extend into diagonal slotsM in the supporting plates 61 and 1B. When the handle 53 is operated to move the slide 36, the studs 13 move along paths parallel to that of the slide 38 and cooperate with the side walls of the diagonal slots M with a cam action to cause the supporting plates 61 and to move toward or away from one another depending upon the direction of movement of the slide 35. The clamping plates 59 and 6d move with the supporting plate 6?, and the clamping plates 53 and 65 move with the supporting plate 10.

In addition to their movement toward and from one another with the supporting plates 61 and lil, it is also necessary for the center clamping plates 6t and 65 to move parallel to their straight edges 21 and 28.

The clamping plate 65 is held on the supporting plate 79 by an undercut guide it which is fastened to the supporting plate it by screws, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. This guide 16 extends parallel to the edge 28 and fits in a slot il in the clamping plate so that'the only movethis clamping plate are the same as for the clamping plate 65 described above.

The pinking blade 13 is held against the clamping plates 69 and 55 by a spring 823. This spring has one end hooked around a stud 84 which is screwed into the supporting plate it. A kinked portion of the spring extends around a stud 82 which is also screwed into the supporting plate. The free end of the spring 89 presses against the stud 8i and tends to rotate the inner portion of the spring about the stud 82 as a center. This pressure causes the spring to assume the contour indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The space between the spring 88 and the clamping plates 5! and 55 comprises a channel in which the pinking blade slides when the die is being adjusted for a diflerent size of vamp. After adjusting the die the width of this channel is reduced by pressing the spring 88 against the pinking blade to clamp the blade irmly between the spring and clamping plates. The faces of these parts which clamp the blade in position are sufficiently high to give the blade the necessary lateral support to prevent it from tipping during the cutting operation.

The pinking blade over the supporting plate 61 is confined between the clamping plates 58 and 64 and a spring 8 which is similar to the spring 86. A yoke 85 contacts with both the springs 88 and 3 5 to hold them in clamping position, as shown in Fig. 3. The yoke 85 is connected to a lever 13? by a cylindrical bearing which permits the yoke to equalize the pressure of the springs 85 and 85. The lever B? has a fulcrum 83 which is flxed with respect to the base 43.

A cam 913 is rotated by a handle 9| about a fixed axis 92. This cam moves the lever 81 to clamp the springs and 24 against the pinking blade. When the cam is in position to clamp the blade, the cam-operating handle iii is above the slide-operating handle 53 so that the latter cannot be turned to change the adjustment of the die when the pinking blade is not free to slide lengthwise in the channel.

In clamping the pinking blade i3 against the sides of the clamping plates 84 and 65, the springs 89 and 8d draw the blade firmly against the curved end faces of these clamping plates so that even the short sections of blade between the springs and the clamp have a substantial amount of lateral support.

Figs. 3 and 9 show an indicator 95 which has a pivot connection 95 with the supporting plate 6?. A pin 96 extends upward from the base 43 through a slot in the plate 6? and into a biiurcated end of the indicator 9t. As the support" ing plate 6'! moves on the base 43, the relative movement of the pin 9E and the indicator 84 causes the indicator to turn about its pivot connection 9%; so that one end of the indicator sweeps across a scale on the plate 67. This scale can be used to designate the size of vamp for which the die is adjusted.

It will be apparent that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment which has been illustrated and described, and that features of the invention can be used without others.

I claim:

1. An adjustable die comprising clamping means forming a channel for a flexible cutter blade, means for changing the contour of the channel, and releasable resilient means tending to reduce the width of said channel so that a blade in the channel is held firmly by said clamping means.

2. An adjustable die including a channel for supporting a flexible cutter blade, said channel extending for substantially the entire length of the cut, means for adjusting the channel to change the contour of the blade, and mechanism for moving the sides of the channel closer to gether to grasp the blade and aiiord it lateral support.

3. An adjustable die including a channel for supporting a flexible cutter blade, said channel extending for a substantial portion of the length of the cut and being formed on one side by clamping plates which are movable to change the contour of the channel, and on the other side by flexible clamping means which take the contour determined by said clamping plates when holding a blade against the clamping plates, and means for moving said flexible clamping means toward the clamping plates to grasp a blade and afford it lateral support.

4. In an adjustable die, a clamping plate for determining the contour of a flexible cutter blade, a spring extending for a substantial distance along one face of the clamping plate, and means holding the spring in position to clamp a cutter blade between the spring and said face of the clamping plate.

5. An adjustable die including in combination, clamping plates which are relatively movable to change the contour of a flexible blade, a supporting plate on which the lower edge of the blade rests, a spring forming with the supporting plate and clamping plates, a channel for the flexible blade, and releasable means for urging the spring toward the clamping plates to cause the side walls oi the channel to embrace and laterally support the cutting blade.

6. In an adjustable die, a support for a flexible cutting blade, plates for determining the outline of the flexible blade, two springs in position to clamp diiferent portions of the blade against said plates, and common means for moving the springs against the blade including a member for equalizing the pressure of the springs.

7. An adjustable die for cutting Vamps or other elements of shoe uppers, including a cutter, means for changing the form of the cutter to the contours of different size graded Vamps or other elements, and a single operating member for actuating the form changing means.

8. Apparatus for cutting Vamps or other elements of shoe uppers, comprising a flexible cutting blade, blade supporting means including devices for holding the blade to the outline of the edge to be cut, and mechanism, for shifting said devices to bend the flexible blade to different contours corresponding to the outlines of different size graded Vamps or other elements.

9. A vamp pinking apparatus comprising a flexible blade corrugated in accordance with the size of the pinking to be produced, means holding the pinking blade to the outline of the vamp edge, and mechanism for shifting the holding means to change the shape of the pinking blade to that of a difierent size vamp throat.

10. In or for an adjustable pinking die in which the blade is bent and the points of flexure changed when the die is adjusted, a blade formed of hard, ribbon stock with corrugations which shape the blade to cut a pinked edge, said corrugations extending across the full height of the blade to increase its flexibility so that any portion of the length of the blade can be alternately bent to a sharp curve and straightened without I deterioration or breakage of the metal of the blade.

11. A pinking blade consisting of a strip of metal sharpened on one edge and corrugated throughout its height and so thin and flexible as to conform readily to curves of short radii and to require substantially full lateral support to hold any imposed conformation.

12. A pinking blade comprising a metal strip of zig-zag form with the corrugations pointed at both sides of the strip and extending throughout the height of the strip to provide a flexible blade which conforms to straight lines, or long or short radius curves.

13. A pinking blade comprising a steel strip, of ribbon thickness and cutting hardness, having corrugations shaped to cut a pinked edge and extending for the full height of the blade so that the blade can bend around short radius curves Without deterioration or breaking of the hard steel.

14. A pinking blade formed of ribbon stock and having corrugations which extend for the full height of the blade to give said blade a wavy cutting edge and to increase the flexibility of the blade so that it can be bent around sharp curves.

15. A blade for cutting a series of points along the'edge of a piece of leather, cloth, or the like, said blade comprising a metal strip having a thickness of .005-.0l5 inch and at least one of its long edges sharpened, the blade being corrugated throughout its length with the corrugations pointed and extending the full height of the blade, and the metal of said blade being flexible to such degree that the blade may be bent around turns of short radius or abrupt angles up to ninety degrees.

16. An adjustable vamp-pinking die including means for clasping the mid-portion of a flexible pinking blade, supporting means on which the blade rests on either side of its mid-portion, releasable clamping means for holding the blade to the contour of a vamp edge, and mechanism for moving the clamping means, when released, to change the contour of the flexible blade to conform to Vamps having wider and deeper throats, said flexible blade being adapted to slide in the clamping means while said clamping means are being moved to adjust the die.

1'7. In a vamp pinking die, an adjustable holder for a flexible pinking blade, said holder including several plates having faces so shaped and in such relation that a flexible blade clamped against said plates is held to the conformation of a vamp edge, and means for shifting the positions of the plates to conform the blade to a vamp of larger size having a throat which is both Wider and deeper.

18. Apparatus for pinking the elements of shoe uppers comprising an adjustable holder for a flexible pinking blade, said holder including several clamping plates for contact with the same side of the blade, means for holding the blade against the clamping plates to give said blade the conformation of the blade-contacting faces of said clamping plates, said plates being shaped to give the blade a conformation with a substantially straight line joining two curves, and means a for shifting the relative position of certain of the plates in the direction of the straight line portion of the blade to increase the length of said straight line when adjusting the holder for pinking elements of larger size.

19. In an adjustable die, a holder for a flexible blade including clamping means for holding the blade to a desired conformation, mechanism for shifting the clamping means to adjust the con formation of the blade, a handle for operating the shifting mechanism, and another handle for operating the clamping means, the clamping handle being located in position to interfere with the operation of the adjusting handle when the blade is clamped.

'20. Vamp pinking apparatus comprising a base, two supporting plates movable sideways toward and from one another, a flexible pinking blade resting on said supporting plates, clamping plates on the supporting plates for holding the blade to the contour of the vamp edge to be pinked, said clamping plates including two end clamping plates, one of which is movable as a unit with each or" the supporting plates, and two center clamping plates, each of which has a straight edge extending along one of the end clamping plates, means for causing the center clamping plates to move toward and from one another with the supporting plates so as to maintain said straight edges of the center clamping plates adjacent their end clamping plates, a clamp gripping the midportion of the flexible blade, mechanism for causing said clamp to move at right angles to the direction of movement of the supporting plates, said mechanism including means for causing the center plates to move with the clamp but in directions parallel to said straight edges at the same time that said center plates are moving with the supporting plates, springs contacting with the flexible blade throughout the greater portion of its length and holding it in firm contact with the clamping plates to afford lateral support to the blade, and means for releasing the pressure of said springs when the clamping plates are to be shifted to change the contour of the blade.

MERLE E. HALSTEAD. 

